Cooper City Incumbent May Struggle

COOPER CITY — Public trust, development, overcrowded schools and city spending are high on the agenda as three candidates vie for the mayor's seat, and five compete for two commission seats.

Mayor Debby Eisinger, who has been on the commission since 2002, is running against teacher Lisa Conlon Dodge and retired executive Edward Wooley.

In District 4, incumbent Elliot Kleiman, a commissioner for more than two years, is facing Diane Sori, a former secretary and treasurer for her family's medical company, and James Curran, a building operations supervisor at Cooper City High School.

In District 3, Neal De Jesus, business administrator at Christ the Rock Community Church, and Abraham Rashid, controller at Cafe Iguana, are battling for the seat held by Bart Roper, who chose not to seek re-election.

Although the candidates must live in certain geographic boundaries, all city residents can vote for them.

The trust issue stems from a 2006 state inquiry into a controversial practice where commissioners dined together on taxpayers' money. The commission halted the practice and Florida Department of Law Enforcement cleared city leaders of any wrongdoing.

Last year, however, it cost two incumbents their seats. This year, while it isn't being raised in debates, some challengers are promising to restore trust as part of their mission.

Eisinger, 49, touts her leadership skills and experience as a community activist as reasons she should be re-elected. She says her vision for the city is to preserve "the same hometown community that families can enjoy."

However, the mayor has come under fire on the dais in recent months, with some questioning her governing style. At several meetings, she had to call for a recess due to outbursts either by another commissioner or resident during public comment.

Eisinger is being challenged by political newcomers Dodge and Wooley. Dodge, who is married to Pembroke Pines City Manager Charlie Dodge, wants to help the city better manage taxpayer money and is calling for a more open style of government

"I'm not going to turn Cooper City into Pembroke Pines," said Dodge, who has asked city leaders to revisit a recently added $20 late fee on water bills and to consider reducing the health benefits commissioners receive.

Wooley said it's time for a change and believes the city did the wrong thing by approving the Monterra development of 1,900 new homes.

"We need to get overdevelopment under control," Wooley said. "It is the root cause for all of our city service and financial problems."

In District 4, Kleiman, a retired professor, said the city is doing a good job at managing development, but he wants to work on increasing its water supply and making sure there is adequate police and fire.

"We're monitoring what's left of open space in Cooper City and constantly urging the School Board to look for sites for another school," he said.

Curran agrees development is under control but said he would like to eventually see City Hall move from its current location at Southwest 50th Place in eastern Cooper City to Pine Island Road.

"Cooper City has no downtown," Curran said. "If we move it out of a residential area, we can reduce the traffic and have it somewhere more central."

But Sori said she opposes moving City Hall and the focus should be on building another school.

"City Hall is important to the integrity of the older section of our city, and it's central to all our residents and the heart of Cooper City," Sori said. "It's massively less expensive to keep it where it is."

In District 3, voters will choose between De Jesus, who says he wants to bring his management skills to the dais and help unite city leaders; and Rashid, who says beautifying the city with more landscaping and aesthetics would be his top priority.

If elected, De Jesus said he would work to "engage the community and embrace an open form of government."

Rashid said while the city has been responsive and efficient, "it is time to bring in a new set of eyes and new ideas that will help in the growth."

Georgia East can be reached at geast@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7921.

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

THE JOBS

Mayor/City commissioner

TERM: Four years. By law, the mayor and city commissioners can serve only three consecutive terms in office.

DUTIES: The four commissioners, along with the mayor, are elected citywide, set the property tax rate and approve the city budget. They set policies, adopt resolutions, pass ordinances and appoint members to advisory boards. A city manager runs the day-to-day operation of the city. The mayor and city manager execute contracts and agreements with other parties as authorized by the five-member commission.

QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must be registered voters and have lived in the city for at least six months prior to the election. Commission candidates are required to live in their respective district they will represent but are elected citywide.